Panthers fall to Lakers, 20-0, in home opener

September 1, 2017

In their first football game of the season, as well as first home game, the Rugby Panthers had a tough go right from the start against the Des Lacs-Burlington Lakers.

The Lakers were able to score on three possessions, winning 20-0 against the Panthers.

The Panthers were forced to punt on their first possession, after a fumble resulted in a loss of yards and a carry and a pass attempt both produced no results.

Article Photos

Junior lineman D.J. Schneibel takes the ball after the Des Lacs-Burlington Lakers attempt a punt block last week in the first game of the season at Johnsen Field.

The Lakers then had their first possession in Panther territory. Despite a loss of 10 yards due to an offensive holding penalty, the Lakers would draw first blood with sophomore quarterback Dante Gunville finding senior wideout Joshua Knutson.

The Panthers' second possession was shorter, with junior quarterback Kevin Vetsch getting one of his pass attempts picked off.

After a nonproductive second possession by the Lakers, the Panthers would find themselves in Laker territory when Vetsch connected with senior wideout Landen Foster.

The Panthers would keep the ball for the first possession of the second quarter, however that possession would result in a turnover on downs after a quarterback keeper came up just short of a first down.

The possession after also resulted in a turnover on downs. On a punt attempt, the Lakers made an attempt to block, but the ball wound up in Panther junior lineman D.J. Schneibel's hands. Schneibel would come very close to a first down.

Vetsch would later have another pass picked off on 3rd and 8 with just over a minute to play in the first half. The Lakers then fumbled on their first snap of the resulting possession.

The third quarter found the Lakers scoring twice. The first was when Gunville connected with senior running back Colton Miller-Boyd on a 23-yard pass. The second time saw senior running back Colton Bartuska on a nine-yard run. The Panthers blocked the point after try.

The Panthers hosted Langdon Area-Munich-Edmore last night, and will travel to Cooperstown next week to take on Central Dakota.

Regional action

Rugby wasn't the only team in Region 2 Class A 11-man that took losses last week.